EDITORIAL: Stopping the Aid Dependency Syndrome

The question of aid dependency has bothered the minds of many Ghanaians for some time now. According to Finance Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the nation depends upon external donors to service up to 40 percent of national budget. It has been so since 1965. In effect, this nation has been unable to cater for itself for nearly four decades.

It is not the best of economic circumstances.

At a function in Accra, two academics called for a drastic review and implementation of policies that would enable the nation stand on its two feet. Professor Kwadwo Assenso-Okyere, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana asked for a national debate on how the nation could reduce this dependency syndrome. At the same function, a fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Dr Robert Osei said although foreign aid play an important role in the development of the national economy, the high level of dependency has the potential of counteracting the development goal that aid seeks to achieve.

He invited authorities to regard aid not as an end but only a means of putting the economy on track.

Public Agenda has always warned against over-dependence on foreign aid. It is not the healthiest means of building an economy. What this means is that anytime donors are unable or unwilling to bring in aid, this nation would be unable to support up to 40 percent of the economy. It is as dangerous as it is unhealthy.

In our traditional homes, any person who depends on others for a living is always frowned upon. He or she is rarely invited to participate in decision-making. In effect, that person is sub-human. That should put authorities on notice to devise programmes to get us out of this dependency syndrome.

The greatest legacy the Kufuor Administration could leave Ghanaians is to lead this nation out of the dependency syndrome. It is not possible to wish the situation away. It will take time and effort. But it can be done. We expect the Minister of Finance and the Government's Economic Team to lead the way.

The whole nation expects the Government to outline in detail how the nation is planning to get this nation out of the mess. If we have depended on external credit for 40 years, it is just impossible to stop taking aid. Surely, we can start a slow but painful process of reducing what we take from external donors.

The answer could be found in making Ghanaian products attractive to the people. In effect, we should try and produce what we consume, while consuming what we produce. Uncle Dan Lartey will call it domestication.